1 Samuel 30:11 (NKJV)
“Then they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David; and they gave him bread and he ate, and they let him drink water.”
 
In the first part of this series, we looked at how we must not despise ourselves because we are weary, or despise others for the same reason. We saw how David did not despise his two hundred weary men who could not cross the Brook to join in fighting the Amalekites.

In today’s devotion, we see how David’s men found a weak and weary Egyptian in the field, and rather than see him as irrelevant to their pursuit, they gave him food and water to nourish him. They did not discard him because of his weariness even though there was no apparent gain at the time for keeping him alive.

Eventually, this dying Egyptian that they nourished, turned out to be their guide to the Amalekite camp. If they had neglected him and pushed him aside as an unnecessary burden, they would have lost the strategic compass God had provided for them in this man.

Something else to note is that David’s men were gradually learning the heart of David. Somehow, David’s DNA was getting across to his men. Rather than kill or discard the Egyptian, they must have thought: “What would David our leader do?” So they brought him to David.

Two big lessons here. First, don’t despise the weak. Some people may look weak and broken today but they could be the key to your success tomorrow. Don’t despise the fragile. God may have hidden great skills and talents in them which may not be evident because of their current state.

A second lesson. Learn from others who have gone before you. Read, watch and listen to biographies of weary men who became treasures later in life. Learn from leaders who have patiently encouraged broken men to becoming amazing team members. Don’t isolate yourself and your situation. Grow in your understanding as David’s men did.

Most natural treasures are hidden in dirty and difficult to reach places. Despite their great value, they can easily be overlooked because of the dirt around them. But skillful prospectors go beyond the dirt to dig for treasures. They know the value of not giving up the search, despite the uncomfortable surroundings.

This too is how we must operate. Invest in the weak. Nurture the weary. Not everybody has the patience to nurture but there’s a blessing waiting for those willing to pay this price. Most people don’t see value in the weary but those with God’s Spirit will persist and persevere until the weak and weary are restored. Then their value will appear.

Invest in the weak Egyptian around you. Give him food. Give him water. Comfort and encourage him. Nurture him. And then wait to see what will unfold. As pilgrims, let’s be patient with the weak and weary because only God knows the value he might bring back to your pilgrimage one day.
 
@ChineduOranye
RestlessPilgrim.org